State Sen. Emil Jones III said Tuesday he was “humbly grateful” to voters as unofficially results showed him easily leading two challengers in the 14th Senate District.
Jones faced a contested primary for the first time in his 17-year Senate career with challenges from Ahmed Karrar and Kenny Williams. He received 60.7% of the vote Tuesday night.
“I’m really grateful to, you know, be able to, be in office for this long and not have an opponent but it was time for me to learn the other part of my job, you know, running in an election,” Jones said Tuesday night. “I ran on my record, and it’s showing to be proven that my record is strong.”
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He said he plans to push for legislation that supports funding education, reducing violence and supporting health care, especially with federal budget cuts, he said.
“We’re going to have to find some ways in the state budget to fill those gaps and protect our most vulnerable, such as our safety net hospitals,” he said.
Williams and Karrar congratulated Jones.
“I am someone who understands I never lose, I learn,” Williams said.
Karrar said learned the challenges working families are facing in the district, including the cost of living to access to health care and opportunities for youth.
Jones will face Republican Brian Skala in November, who ran unopposed in his primary.
The 14th Senate District stretches over a wide swath of the south suburbs, from the South Side neighborhood of Roseland in the east to Orland Park and Homer Glen in the west.
Jones was elected to the Senate in 2008 and previously served as an administrator at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Jones was charged with bribery in 2022, with charges alleging he agreed to help a red light camera company block unfavorable legislation in exchange for $5,000 and a job for his legislative intern. Shortly after, Gov. JB Pritzker called for him to resign.
The case went to trial last year, but the jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared. The case was set to be retried, but in December Jones entered into a deferred prosecution deal to leave him with no conviction so long as he paid a $6,800 fine, stayed out of further legal trouble and admitted to certain illegal conduct, including making false statements to the FBI.
Before 2008, the Senate seat was held by his father, former Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.
34th House District
Cleopatra Cowley, the mother of Hadiya Pendleton who was killed in a 2013 South Side shooting, had 59% of the vote over Aja Kearney in the Democratic primary, according to unofficial results. It is the first time in eight years no incumbent was on the ballot as Rep. Nick Smith announced he would not run for reelection.
No Republican filed to run for the seat.
The district stretches from the South Side neighborhood of Roseland south along the Indiana border and into the Kankakee area.
Cowley has said she would like to champion policies that attack the root causes of violence while holding offenders accountable, according to her campaign website. Plans include investing in economic opportunities and mental health support.
Kearney congratulated Cowley and wished her well.
“I truly enjoyed connecting with the residents of the 34th District,” Kearney said. “I am thankful for my campaign team — we ran a great race.”
35th House District
State Rep. Mary Gill ran unopposed in the Democratic primary but two Republicans were on the ballot Tuesday to see who would challenge her in November.
David Dewar, a financial adviser from Calumet Park who now lives in Mount Greenwood Heights, was leading Tuesday with 73.3% of the vote over Charles Lay, acccording to unofficial results.
Dewar has said he supports the Make America Great Again campaign, President Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk, but said he aims to prioritize policies over party politics and represent “we the people, not they the politicians.”
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Dewar said he would not comment due to the Tribune Editorial Board endorsement of his opponent.
The district, which incumbent Gill said in 2024 is traditionally home to many Chicago police and firefighters, includes all or parts of Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Orland Park, Worth and Alsip.